Review #11

7th November 1987

This episode ruined me emotionally. It was a really sad story about Rose's father and how he died. Rose created a paradox saving him but in the end there was nothing they could do Pete had to die. This story expanded Rose's family and introduced her dad. It was a really good story I'd say this is the best of series 1. 10/10

I really like this episode, though I'm not a big fan of the time reapers

Rose messes around in her own timeline and it goes badly. It was really cool to see how she behaves around her father who she never knew, and also see the difference between how he was remembered and how he actually was with his relationship with Jackie. Pete goes out like a badass putting the world right, getting the opportunity to be the protector and father figure for Rose that she never had.

The time reapers are dumb, but mostly I don't like them because they dont really show up ever again. In a show like this you would think they would be a pretty frequent occurrence but nope. It just doesn't make a lot of sense why they are here and nowhere else

I cry every time.

2025 Rewatch

• I used to feel this story was a bit of a slog. I know it's power, sentiment, and brilliance, but I remember feeling like this slowed down my energy. I have changed that opinion, I savour its creeping edge of existentialism
• Billie acts her heart out; it is truly her best episode of the series, highly emotional and moving
• The Reapers look awesome, bat-like, and with a brilliant sound design. I genuinely think the GCI holds up to this day. I want them to come back
• This episode just has a shroud of bleakness, harrowingness, and despair, It is eerie as hell; I love it.
• I think the placement for this story is perfectly fitted, especially after the little Adam arc

Pretty much NuWho’s Aztecs.

And while I don’t love it as much as I do the Aztecs Serial, there is a lot of good here, and it’s easily one of the very finest Things we got in Series 1. Eccelston Acting here is easily one of his finest Performance in the Character, but Piper is probably the Scene stealer here. Whereas Dalek is very much Eccelston Time to shine, this one is for Piper.

The whole Story about Rose and her Farther Pete is excellent to watch. I am a huge Fan of Paradox Stories and while it didn’t go into the direction, I would have expected at the first time. I overall enjoy it a lot. Furthermore, I was a bit disappointed about this alien that came to play here (and overall the Design aged quite poorly, sadly) I do like the Idea behind it, but wish we got maybe something more abstract. But still, Cornell shows why he is a splendid Writer, and it’s quite a shame he didn’t get to write more for NuWho. Still one of the very best of Series 1.